Hi Sweetheart! I can't believe that Christmas is almost here. I don't feel very "festive" yet... maybe because I'm working so much these two weeks leading up to Christmas. It's been a busy time for me, baby. All this time, you've been sick... still. I haven't seen so much snot come out of one person, ever. Ever! So, on Saturday, I took you to the doctor and got some antibiotics for you. We think that maybe there's some bacteria in there that's keeping you from getting better and you know what?! IT'S WORKING!!! Last night, you only had one coughing fit at 10 o'clock for about a half an hour and then cried out at 4 am twice. THAT'S IT! You woke up this morning with a dry nose, a big smile, and a well-rested body! Yay! I said a prayer of gratitude last night for science and doctors and antibiotics, thankyouverymuch!
We are making the round this Christmas, swinging by both families homes to celebrate. We'll be with daddy's family on Christmas Eve, and my family on Christmas Day. I was hoping to have some "just us" time on Christmas- go to church, look at lights, watch a Christmas movie, read the Christmas story, make cookies etc instead of traveling between homes but seeing your families is so important. Someday, maybe when you're older, we'll claim Christmas for our nuclear family- maybe we'll host, who knows? All I know is that navigating the holidays is hard- trying to make time for "just us" and connecting with our loved ones who we see all too infrequently.
So, baby girl, even though I know you won't remember any of this, I am thinking of you and how our holidays can create lifelong memories for you. I'm wanting to start traditions that someday, you may carry into your own family with your own littles. Maybe I should stake a claim to the night before Christmas Eve- we can pre-pare everything so that Christmas eve can be relaxing and filled with family time. And... I've started to wonder what to do about Santa. How do I keep Christmas about the birth of Jesus AND include Santa... Do I even want to? Do I want to tell you something that I know will make you so sad later? Hmmm... it's just tossing around in my brain and I'm trying to be proactive before you get old enough to go Santa crazy... I mean, let's be honest- I'm pretty creative and dramatic so if we go the Santa route, I might get a little carried away... just sayin'. Anyway- I'm sure that whatever your daddy and I decide will be okay- I'm just surprised by how little decisions carry so much weight with you. Maybe I put too much weight on them, maybe not. Hard to know.
I DO know this. You are really magical right now. You get so excited for everything and are chattering constantly! If anything, the joy I feel when I'm around you points me directly to the gift of that baby in the manger so many years ago. I'm so grateful to be your mama, peanut. You make me so full.
I love you, darling girl.
Mama
Alright, Mamas: Santa... to introduce or not to introduce and how... discuss...
Santa is a part of Christmas, even if it's the commercial side of things. In our American culture, it will be hard to avoid it. Liv's dance class is having a "Holiday Party" tonight - very PC. But then they dance to Rudolph and Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree. It's a CHRISTMAS PARTY!
ReplyDeleteLiv is old enough this year to talk about baby Jesus and starting to realize that side of Christmas. I'm telling her that Christmas is a time when we celebrate Jesus's birthday, and that's why we get gifts. Dora, of all places, had a Christmas special and talked about the "true meaning of Christmas." Try having that talk with a 3-year old who half way through it, started twirling around the room. She just doesn't get it now. But she will.
But to watch her eyes light up when Norman, our elf on the shelf, moves around and does silly things. I wouldn't miss that Santa moment on Sunday morning for anything. She believes in the magic right now, and I wish I still did. Creeping out to see the tree bursting with presents. How did THAT happen, we'd wonder??
I love the magic. I hate the stress of shopping, wrapping, cleaning, and wrestling with the tree and decorations. But knowing that her world is filled with that spirit of wonderment, no way would I give that up.
We do Santa too but nothing to huge. I just say that Santa is so excited about Jesus' birthday he brings everyone a present. It's a tiny part of our Christmas celebration, not the focus. We dont do the Elf on a Shelf or even make a big deal out to going to see Santa. It is so easy to get wrapped up in the hype at Christmas so I try to enjoy the holiday without losing Jesus in the middle of it.
ReplyDeleteB goes around knocking on things saying," There is no room here, you can stay at my farm." That is about as far as he has gotten this year. With the Night before Christmas book on Christmas Eve we also read Away in a Manger and have a bday cake for Jesus. It's a mix and for right now it works. He isn't asking the tough questions yet...whatever we say he believes...
What are you going to do Sar?
Heather
I don't know what we'll do yet. I know that my mom is itching to get Santa-izing the holiday for Gemma. I don't know... I'm thankful that I have time to decide.
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